Asamoah Gyan and David Trezeguet - star AGL strikers who came before Alvaro Negredo

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  • Former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Spain striker Alvaro Negredo is poised to become the latest big-name striker to try his hand in the Arabian Gulf League.

    Negredo, 33, joined Al Nasr from Turkey’s Besiktas on Friday on a lucrative two-year deal. La fiera de Vallecas (The beast of Vallecas) is poised for an immediate debut on Friday evening when champions Al Ain come to Dubai.

    The UAE’s top-flight has seen a number of centre forward’s with huge reputations take to its fields. Mixed results have been witnessed since professionalism began in 2007/08.

    Here, Sport360 runs through the list.

    GRAFITE

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    There was no buyer’s remorse from – the now defunct – Al Ahli after they snapped up Grafite.

    The nuanced Brazil striker excelled at Rashid Stadium from 2011-15, exhibiting all the qualities that made him a Bundesliga winner and German Player of the Year at Wolfsburg.

    Beyond his 63 goals in 79 top-flight appearances, he set a sterling example on and off the pitch.

    ASAMOAH GYAN

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    Al Ain pushed hard to land the Ghana superstar, their ambition being rewarded with a flood of goals and trophies.

    Gyan scored a mind-boggling 128 goals in 123 matches from 2011-15 after his procurement – initially on loan – from Sunderland.

    Hail the hero from the Garden City, rather than the injury ravaged figure who underwhelmed on loan at Ahli from Shanghai SIPG during 2016/17.

    LUCA TONI

    The United Arab Emirate's Al-Nasr club p

    Italy’s World Cup 2006 winner acts as a harbinger of doom for the Blue Wave.

    The giant striker was expected to dominate the division once a deal was agreed with Juventus. But beset by injury problems, he scored just three times in eight top-flight appearances before his deal was mutually terminated.

    Toni would later witheringly say you cannot play “real football” in the UAE.

    MIRKO VUCINIC

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    The inventive Montenegro striker experienced genuine highs and lows at Al Jazira.

    July 2014’s €6 million deal with Juve was repaid by goals; 25 came in 23 AGL matches in an entertaining 2014/15 under Belgium’s Eric Gerets. Tragedy would soon strike, however, in November 2015 when a catastrophic knee injury would eventually lead to retirement.

    The 34-year-old has recently registered as a professional golfer.

    DAVID TREZEGUET

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    Blink and you missed him.

    The prolific France and Juventus striker inked a one-year deal at Bani Yas in August 2011. A recurring thigh injury and a personal ennui saw his deal scrapped by that November.

    This forgettable spell included three listless matches. A move to River Plate in Argentina – the country of his birth – brought Trezeguet back to life and 14 goals followed in 21 Primera B Nacional fixtures.

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